Is Healthcare a Right Guaranteed to All?
By debrakcarey
@debrakcarey (19887)
United States
August 19, 2009 9:01am CST
A basic right which is implied but not mentioned in the Constitution is the right to travel. The government should not interfere in our movement from place to place. But there is no right to transportation, either to a specific form of transport or to have any provided, Cash For Clunkers notwithstanding. If there were, one couldn’t pass by a hitchhiker (and they would choke every intersection demanding that their rights be satisfied).
Similarly, the government should not be able to bar anyone from receiving health care. That is very different thing from supplying it to everyone, or forcing health care workers to serve anyone who appears before them.
But in their usual manner, the left have found a way to redefine the word “right” in this context, from that which the government cannot prevent to that which it must provide. Like other socialists, Barack Obama believes rights to include things the government must provide, and it is from that unfortunate perspective that he was able to give the clear response that he did. Indeed, positive rights are the essence of socialism, and cause an insidious mission creep for an ever-expanding government. Positive rights also lead inevitably to forcing one citizen, whether driver or physician, to serve another.
http://lornakismet.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/health-care-is-a-right-no-it-is-not/
3 people like this
4 responses
@jb78000 (15139)
•
19 Aug 09
so you'd have to force doctors to treat people? apart from the fact that this is a strange analogy don't doctors treat everyone they see regardless of who is paying?
as far as i know doctors rarely go 'do you think i'm going to treat him, goodness no, he's an ar*e'
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
19 Aug 09
Doctors treat everyone they agree to see. Not all doctors are accepting new patients, they have a full patient list. And not all doctors accept every health insurance plan, sometimes not accepting the public plans that btw are already in place both on the state and federal level. They are called Medicare and Medicaid. They cover the elderly and the poor, respectively.
1 person likes this
@jb78000 (15139)
•
19 Aug 09
oddly enough some doctors here have full patient lists too. i'm not going to get into the details of your current or planned healthcare system, i was thinking it was a bit strange to suggest that national healthcare would be forcing doctors to do things against their will and was a bit like making drivers pick up hitch hikers.
ps, have a referendum, please.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
19 Aug 09
The liberal's interpretation of a RIGHT is something which the government MUST PROVIDE. The conservative's interpretation of a RIGHT is something which the government cannot PREVENT.
But in their usual manner, the left have found a way to redefine the word “right” in this context, from that which the government cannot prevent to that which it must provide. Like other socialists, Barack Obama believes rights to include things the government must provide, and it is from that unfortunate perspective that he was able to give the clear response that he did. Indeed, positive rights are the essence of socialism, and cause an insidious mission creep for an ever-expanding government. Positive rights also lead inevitably to forcing one citizen, whether driver or physician, to serve another.
Please read the article link to fully understand the discussion.
http://lornakismet.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/dirty-secret-no-2-in-obamacare/
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
19 Aug 09
Hm, well I think a government has a responsibility to protect its weakest citizens. This (in my crazy mind) includes not only fire, police and military, but also such things as unemployment, retirement benefits, education, and some minimum amount of health care (for the elderly and children at least). And I am willing to pay for that to a point even if there is a chance that I may never use it myself. But only to a point. And where do you draw the line and how do you determine what a reasonable minimum is?
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
19 Aug 09
I realize that. And paying for health care for everybody else would put a pretty nasty dent in the budget. But we need something. I wonder how it would work if there were some kind of an opt out clause.
@dawnald (85135)
• Shingle Springs, California
19 Aug 09
Scary indeed...
But what's worse, the government (mis) managing your health care, or not having any? I'd love to see another solution though.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
19 Aug 09
You already do pay for that...by taxes taken out of your check each week. It's called Medicare and Medicaid. And the government cannot run these programs responsibly...much less what they had planned in HR 3200.
1 person likes this
@prashanthalva (2272)
• India
20 Aug 09
You Guys Are Lucky To Be born In A Country Where Right to Health Care is A Fundamental Right .. We Indians Are Not As Lucky As You .. We Pay A Heavy Price to Get Good Health Care .. Poor People Have No Where To Go But the Hapless Government Hospitals Which Are Supposed to Provide free Medical Care .. But It Is Never That Way .. I Feel Really Sorry for My Country And It's People .. The People In Power Should Pass Some tough Legislation To Make the Government Work More Transparent In My Country And Also Else Where ..
@prashanthalva (2272)
• India
20 Aug 09
Am Sorry .. I think iwas Out of Context On Here .. Do have a Good Day .. See You All ..
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
20 Aug 09
Oh...you were right on target. We do have the BEST medical system in the world right now. And even those uninsured and poor have access to it.
And your government run healthcare system is exactly why America should NOT follow the examples of countries with national healthcare.
Reform is needed...but as I see so often posted, if the uninsured are responsible for closing down hospitals...reform should start from the bottom up and regulate the insurance companies and lawyers who rush to court and huge judgements. How about Big Pharmacuetical companies and their appetite for BIG profits? These are the things driving healthcare prices and insurance costs. Not to mention...not allowing the less expensive alternative medicine's into the mix. Oh, there's alot that could be done..without Big Government involved.
@MysticTomatoes (1053)
• United States
19 Aug 09
Being able to worship in a church or worship house of your chosing is a right.
Being free to burn an American flag in your front yard is a right.
Calling the president an idiot on national TV is a right.
Healthcare is not a right.
What's next? A 4000 sq ft house with a pool, inground sprinkler system and a butler for all Americans is now a "right?"
A new car evey 3 months becomes a "right" for all drivers over 21?
There are already too many "rights" that I as a tax payer have to pay for. Healthcare is not one of them. The system we have now is broken. Badly. Due to too much abuse and misuse, there isn't enough money to go around. If 0bama wants to force healthcare on everyone then he darn well needs to go after the abuse first and NOT force us all to wait 6 months for an operation like they do in Canada.
@jb78000 (15139)
•
19 Aug 09
sorry mystic, i was going to leave this discussion alone until this. ok are you sure that haaving a lower average life expectancy than several foreign countries means your current health policy is that good? and i can't comment on canada but in most european countries citizens are treated ok = hence the life expectancy statistics of countries that don't.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
19 Aug 09
You misunderstood the point....just because something is a right doesn't mean the government HAS TO PROVIDE IT TO YOU OR FORCE SOMEONE TO PROVIDE IT TO YOU.
A right is something that the government CANNOT DENY you...which is exactly what the HR 3200 proposed to do...ration healtcare and only give it to those who were found productive citizens.
look at the analogy...moving about freely is a right we have in America...but the government does not have to pay our airfare or taxi fare.
